AUSTIN — Sen. Ted Cruz says Gov. Rick Perry has done a good job leading the state but isn’t responsible for the booming economy that has created more than 1 million jobs in the decade he’s been governor.

“There isn’t a politician in this country who’s responsible for the economic growth we have,” Cruz said Friday. “The economic growth has come from the private sector, it’s come from entrepreneurs. Nothing drives me crazier than politicians who run around talking about the jobs they’ve created.”

He added: “Politicians are very good at killing jobs, but they don’t create jobs.”

Cruz and Perry, both Republicans, could be rivals should both decide to run for president in 2016.

Perry has traveled the country in recent months, saying his low-tax, low-regulation approach as governor since 2000 has been the driving force behind Texas’ tops-in-the-nation job growth. The state’s record of job creation under Perry is seen as his strongest selling point should he make another run for the White House.

Cruz said Perry and the Legislature deserve credit for enacting “laws that create an environment that allow small businesses to prosper and flourish, for not screwing up.

“But we should all be very clear. The jobs are not created by politicians. They are created by the private sector,” Cruz said.

The freshman senator made the remarks at a news conference while in Austin to address graduating ROTC students.

In recent months, Perry has made high-profile trips to several states to recruit companies to Texas, touting a friendly business climate.

Perry told activists in Iowa that his record of cutting taxes and regulation in Texas proves that those efforts work. He’s tried to lure businesses to move from California, New York, Illinois and other states, trumpeting the economic benefits under his governorship.